Leighton Turner loved every part of his job as Franklin Community High School’s assistant principal except one: periodically he had to try to talk a student out of quitting.

The conversations usually didn’t go well. The students would tell Turner about their future plans, which might involve making a living as a roofer earning $10 an hour. Turner would try to explain that they wouldn’t be able to support themselves or a family on that wage. The words rarely sank in.

Then, a few years ago, Turner got the chance to help some of those students and others after they realized he was right.

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